Kickboxing has seized the opportunity to cash in on the growing interest in fight sports in the UK, particularly at heavyweight, as Glory brings its biggest star, the 6ft 5ins, 18-and-a-half stone Dutch heavyweight Rico Verhoeven to Birmingham on June 2.

He has been the dominant champion for four years in the sport, and will compete sandwiched between the two biggest mixed martial arts organisations coming to the UK next weekend. Bellator brings its 200th event to London, and two days later, the UFC alights on Liverpool for the first time. Then there’s Tyson Fury’s vaunted comeback in Manchester on Saturday June 9. There has never been a time with so much money sweeping fight venues.